Improvement in stalk-choppers



J. B' BAIRD. Stalk-Chopper.

No. 208,556. Patented Oct. 1,1878.

m named UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIOE.

JAMES B. BAIRD, OF BAYOU LA OHUTE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO HOWARD G. STRDTGFELLOW, OF RED RIVER PARISH, LOUISIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN STALK-CHOPPERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 208.556, dated October 1, 1878; application filed May 16, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES B. BAIRD, of Bayou La Chute, in the parish of Gaddo and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stalk-Choppers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improvementin corn-stalk cutters; and consists of a system of knives, formiu g arotary cutter, having its bearings in a frame pivoted to an axle mounted on wheels, and provided with a drivers seat, a

guard for bending the corn-stalks, and a lever connected with the cutter-frame for elevating it, and also for holding it in position, to permit the cutter to operate upon the corn-stalks, all of which Will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings similar letters of reference indicate like parts in the invention.

The axle A is curved, as shown, to give the seat B the necessary elevation and to permit the machine to readily straddle the corn-stalks, which are first bent over by the guard G, extending forward from the axle A. The rotary cutter D has its bearings in the lower ends of the arms E, pivoted in recesses F in the rear lower side of the axle A. A lever, G, is pivoted to the side of the seat B in a position to be conveniently operated by the driver, and is connected by a curved rod, H, to the cutter-frame, as shown. Akeeper, I, is provided for the front end of the lever G, with which it should engage when it is desired to carry the cutter inoperatively. When the cutter D is to be let down to operate upon the cornstalks for the purpose of chopping them up, the lever G should be disengaged from the keeper I, and the hooked arm K, secured to the side of seat B, should be hooked into the eye J near the end of the lever G, for the purpose of preventing the cutter D from being forced upwardly.

The Wheels which carry the axle A should be of a size that will permit the weight of the machine to come upon the rotary cutter D until it sinks the blades into the ground as far as the hub of the cutter, so that in passing over the corn-stalks the weight of the machine will be utilized to cut them.

This machine is cheap, simple, and efiective, and by it corn-stalks may be out up into such lengths as to be readily turned under by the plow.

I am aware that stalk-choppers have been constructed embracing substantially the general features of my invention, and I do not claim such, broadly; but

What I do claim is The rotary cutter D, suspended by the swinging frame E, provided with the lever G, in combination with the curved axle A, having attached thereto the fixed guard O, the whole constructed and operating substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

J. B. BAIRD.

Witnesses:

It. 0. ETTREDGE, P. E. MAY. 

